| LG could be working on the Nexus 5 after all May 31st 2013, 11:40 
Who's making the Nexus 5? The answer varies depending on which "industry insider" or "upsteam supply chain source" you listen to, but the latest reports are pointing towards LG again. The Korean firm did a mighty fine job on the Google Nexus 4, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the search giant stuck to its guns and gave LG another spin - like it did with Samsung for the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. Although earlier this week an LG executive distanced the firm from the Nexus 5, what we're hearing today from Korean site Daum is that it's already got a prototype in testing. Google glimpseTesting has reportedly been going on for a few months now, but LG is trying to keep everything under lock and key. Apparently LG has already shown off its Nexus 5 prototype to Google big-wig Larry Page - although there's no way to verify this information. The article also mentioned sales figures for the Nexus 4 handset, pegging them at around 3 million (some way off the 10 million the Samsung Galaxy S4 managed in under a month), although LG hasn't officially confirmed the number of units it's shipped.     |  | Week in Tech: Saying a big hello to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini May 31st 2013, 10:00 
When is a launch not a launch? When it's a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini launch. Rather than keep its powder dry until the official launch date on June 20, Samsung has decided to tell us everything well in advance. So what's the story? According to our resident phone expert Gareth Beavis, while it "packs a number of top end features in a diminutive package", it also "does away with a lot of the 'innovation' we saw in the S4". That's a good thing: the so-called innovation was generally rubbish. Hardware-wise the Mini is pretty much what everybody expected: a 960x540, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1.7GHz dual core processor, 8GB of storage (5GB available) and a microSD slot. There's a nice camera, Android 4.2.2, a low-ish price tag and a July release date. Samsung isn't the only firm to spill the beans way in advance of a product launch: Motorola's at it too. The Google-owned handset maker's latest flagship, the Moto X, won't be out until October - but CEO Dennis Woodside teased this week's AllThingsD conference by saying it was in his pocket but he couldn't show it to anybody. You might think that sounds like the sort of behaviour you grow out of aged six. We couldn't possibly comment. 
No such tactics for Huawei: its Ascend P6 will be unveiled on June 18, and if the teaser product image is anything to go by the entire internet is going to say, "Man! It looks like an iPhone!". Rather worryingly the phone's USP appears to be its thinness. While ever-thinner smartphones are impressive from an engineering point of view, we'd much rather have exciting features or better battery life than a slightly slimmer case. Hopefully the P6 has some surprises up its super-slim sleeve. State of the 8While Huawei gets ready to unveil a phone, Microsoft is putting the finishing touches to Windows 8.1, the operating system formerly known as Windows Blue. New screenshots suggest that as rumoured, the Start button really is coming back - and you'll be able to boot into Desktop mode, although that won't be the default option. 
We've got most of the puzzle pieces now, and while Windows 8.1 isn't going to be a dramatically different OS it should address the most common criticisms of Windows 8. As ever, we have all the Windows 8.1 information you could ever possibly need online, and we'll be updating it constantly between now and Microsoft's Build 2013 conference at the end of June when Windows 8.1 will be officially unveiled. Cooking something upWhat's American and doesn't say much for more than an hour? That's right: it's Tim Cook! The Apple CEO's second year at AllThingsD was as successful as his first, if by "successful" you mean "inscrutable". Despite the hosts' best efforts Cook refused to be drawn on Apple's plans, the existence of an Apple TV set, the iWatch, whether his name was really Tim Cook, what day it was or whether the sun was shining, and we suspect that we'd have got just as much information if the hosts had attempted to interview a spy, or perhaps a mime. We're not surprised, of course: Apple prefers to announce Apple things at Apple events, such as WWDC, coming up in a fortnight. Hopefully WWDC will have more interesting news than a slightly cheaper iPod.     | | Blip: White Nexus 4 launching in Harvey Norman mid-June May 31st 2013, 03:27 
If you like your flagship Android handsets untainted by impurities like colour, LG has just confirmed that the white version of its Nexus 4 handset will launch in Australia in the middle of June. The phone, which goes on sale through Optus and Harvey Norman stores, won't offer anything revolutionary under the hood though, with LG confirming the phone is shipping with the 4.2 version of Jelly Bean and not Android 4.3. Harvey's has got the phone selling for $419 outright, while Optus has it on a range of plans over 24 months. More Blips!Enjoy our full range of Blips, now available in white.     | | Apple patent for gaze detection rivals Samsung's 'Smart Pause' feature May 31st 2013, 01:09 
A new Apple patent reveals that future iOS devices could incorporate gaze technology that rival Samsung's "Smart Pause" and "Smart Scroll" features found in the Galaxy S4. The "Electronic Devices With Gaze Detection Capabilities" patent lays out several benefits for iPhones and iPads capable of detecting when a user is looking at the device. "When the device detects that the user has looked away from the device, the device may dim a display screen and may perform other suitable actions," indicates the U.S. Patent and Trademark filing. In addition to battery-saving benefits, the capability could regulate video playback for only the right, eyes-on-the-screen moments. "The device may pause a video playback operation when the device detects that the user has looked away [and] resume the video playback operation when the device detects that the user is looking towards the device." Patent for a pressable, flexible displayA more original Apple patent entitled "Embedded Force Measurement" was also published today, discovered Apple Insider. "[It's a] force detection system that detects force exerted on a flexible display based upon changes in resistance and/or capacitance," reads the patent's abstract. Such pressable, flexible technology would allow the company's two-dimensional multitouch screen to add a third dimension in the form of a z-axis. The best real-world example of this new screen technology being used in an app comes from the patent's GarageBand example. The virtual keyboard would be able to detect how loudly notes should be played. All of a sudden, the ability to play chopsticks on a virtual piano may have just gotten a little more advanced beyond the original iPad mini commercial. - Excited about new iPhone technology? Read up on the iPhone 5S rumors for the latest.
    | | Former Windows head thinks 100M Windows 8 sales is nothing to scoff at May 30th 2013, 22:15 
The man who was behind Windows 8 thinks that sales of Microsoft's newest operating system aren't all that bad seven months after its launch. "It's hard for me to look at selling 100 million of something and not be happy," said the former President of Windows division, Steve Sinofsky, according to AllThingsD. "It will take a long time for things to play out," he cautioned at the D11 conference. "It's exciting but it means while it is going on you have to resist the urge to pick winners and losers." Sinofsky's former company revealed that Windows 8 reached 100 million sales in its first six months of availability. Microsoft also revealed where its OS is going in the future with 12 big changes in Windows 8.1. Apple doesn't fall too far from the MicrosoftWhen asked to comment on Apple and Google, Sinofsky said that there are positive and negative challenges at both of Microsoft's rivals. "It's beautiful to use an iPhone - as long as you want do the things it supports," he said digging in at Apple's lack of developer and user customization. Sinofsky also commented on the newly confirmed redesign of iOS 7, which involves Apple's Jony Ive and is rumored to have a flat, non-texturized look. "[At Microsoft], it was exciting to be part of a project that changes the design paradigm," he said of the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 flat look that a skeuomorphic-free iOS may adopt. "If people follow, it can be even better." Uses an Android phoneSinofsky held up a Surface RT tablet, which he helped spearhead while at Microsoft, but he also pulled out an HTC One smartphone during the D11 conference. "Using this Android phone. It is amazing in its openness and all its variety," he said, commenting that having many people be part of Google's success is "a big force multiplier." "[But] the subtlety of being open is hard to get across. There are nefarious app developers out there. Not malware but just developers trying to make their app get seen." "They might have a great calculator but they want to show up everywhere." Sinofsky's futureAsked whether he thought about joining Google or Apple follow his departure from Microsoft, Sinofsky deflected the question. "Right now I am in learning mode." "The industry is undergoing a tremendous amount of change," he said earlier in the D11 interview. "I think that is exciting and it means a lot of opportunity." But that opportunity will have to wait for Sinofsky, who concluded, "I'm not in a big rush."     | | Nuance CEO predicts cross-platform virtual assistants within 2 years May 30th 2013, 20:40 
Current virtual assistants like Apple's Siri and Google Now are far from perfect, but they could evolve within the next two years to be something much greater. Nuance CEO Paul Ricci predicted at the D11 conference this week that virtual assistants will be lending a hand across multiple platforms and mediums, providing full control of everything from phones to TVs, within two years. "I think we will see virtual assistants within two years that are quite robust," Ricci said. "I also believe that within two years we will see that virtual assistants will work across platforms." Nuanced controlNuance is the company behind the Dragon dictation and speech recognition software. Last year it debuted a virtual assistant SDK for iOS and Android called Nina that can recognize individual users by their voice. The U.S. company is also involved with Siri, Samsung's S Voice, similar technology on HTC phones, and Amazon. It is also working on in-car speech recognition systems, Ricci revealed. "The car does need work but the problem must be solved," he said.     | | HTC T6 poised to challenge Samsung Galaxy Note 3 May 30th 2013, 20:06 
It would appear the kid gloves are coming off in the battle for Android smartphone supremacy, as more reports point to HTC readying a phablet of its own to take on Samsung's Galaxy Note 3. On Tuesday, the first rumors about the HTC T6 surfaced, indicating a new large-screen device was in the works at the Taiwanese manufacturer. The HTC One already encroached on Samsung's Android dominance with the Galaxy S4, but based on newly leaked specs, HTC is thinking bigger. While the phablet game has largely been Samsung's to lose at this point, the supposed specs for the T6 might finally give the Note series a run for its money. Taking NotesFrequent tipster evleaks took to The Unlockr to spill the beans on the T6's potential power and features. Like the Note 3, the T6 is expected to feature a 5.9-inch full-HD screen and a stylus, but that's pretty much where the similarities will end. Though HTC might be planning on providing a pen for the T6, the company is apparently attempting to make its stylus a "premium experience," which would include an ultra-thin tip capable of a range of manipulation capabilities. Where the Note 3 is believed to be using the outrageous octa-core processor and Android 4.3, HTC will reportedly build the T6 to include a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor to run Android 5.0: Key Lime Pie. Since Key Lime Pie isn't exactly available just yet, the T6's use of the yet-to-be-seen Android operating system could mean it won't see the light of day until later this year. HTC's T6 is also tipped to sport 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage (with a microSD expansion slot), which should help keep pace with the Note 3's potentially similar specs. One-upmanshipHTC could also be following Samsung slightly in the way the T6 will be designed. It hopes to emulate a larger HTC One the same way the Note 3 would be a larger Galaxy S4. The T6 should keep the BoomSound speakers (with dedicated audio processor) and have the UltraPixel camera on the rear of the device. The front-facing camera is expected to be a 2.1MP lens, and HTC will likely attribute its Sense skin on top of the Android OS. Battery life will also be a big sticking point for the T6, as HTC isn't reportedly content to merely leave the 3300mAh battery to power the device alone. In addition to the inner battery, the phablet may feature a protective case/battery with an extra 1250mAh to keep the T6 going when the charge winds down. The striking new feature from this latest leak though is the suggestion the T6 will pack a biometric fingerprint reader on its rear, which will unlock the handset as soon as you grip it. On its own, the HTC T6 sounds like it could be a rather impressive device, but it will have to deal with the potential consumer base already being entrenched in the Samsung brand. Until we know more concrete details about the Note 3 and the HTC T6, it's too early to call which phablet has the inside track. - Curious what Android phone is best for you? Learn more about the Best Android Phones with our handy guide.
    | | Google Play Music All Access hitting iOS in 'a couple of weeks' May 30th 2013, 19:46 
Google Play Music All Access will head to iOS in the next couple weeks, the company has revealed. Google's Senior Vice President of Android, Chrome and Google Apps Sundar Pichai broke the news at the D11 conference this week. "In Google's DNA, we wanted to be universally accessible," Pichai said, speaking with tech journalist Walt Mossberg. "The goal with search was to make it work for everyone in the world, and I think that philosophy extends today." "We brought Google Now to iOS. A couple weeks from now we will launch Google Play Music All Access for iOS, the teams are working like crazy to do it." All Access, for everyoneGoogle unveiled its Google Play Music All Access subscription streaming service during its Google IO keynote earlier in May. All Access will compete with services like Spotify, Xbox Music, and Pandora. During the event, Android Engineering Director Chris Yerga called it "radio without rules." Google Play Music All Access is available now in some countries and will head to others soon. The privacy question: Android guest accounts?When asked how Google can innovate in privacy, Pichai responded that Android guest accounts could be in the cards for the future. "When we did Chrome, we did a full incognito mode. That's one example [of Google's innovations in privacy]," he explained. "But we do want more things like that. There's a lot of things from a security standpoint, from a perspective of children and parents. There's no reason we can't do something like guest accounts on Android."   | | The Google Nexus hardware train won't stop, says Android chief May 30th 2013, 17:13 
Nexus has seen a bit of a resurgence this month, with Google outing a stock Android Galaxy S4 at IO and HTC unwrapping news of a Nexus UX One landing next month today. Google itself isn't done with the Nexus line of products either, at least according to Android/Chrome chief Sundar Pichai. On stage at the AllThingsD D11 conference, Pichai was asked point blank if Google is done making Nexus products, particularly as Google grows an open Android ecosystem that lets OEMs and carriers leave customized software fingerprints on devices. "The goal behind Nexus was to push on hardware too," Pichai said. "The goal behind Nexus is to make sure we always are investing in cutting edge hardware along with our partners and guiding the ecosystem to the next devices we need to do. So that will continue as well." Pichai, by the way, had with him the Sense-less HTC One, a phone that will hit Google Play June 26 for $599 (around UK£395, AU$622). He said this is Google's take Android, "how we intended the user experience to be on Nexus devices." Be not afraidPichai later fielded a query about whether Google sees a problem in Samsung's dominance of the Android hardware market. "We actually owe a lot of success in Android to what [Samsung has] done," he answered. "A vast majority of their phones are based on Android, so I see a pretty symbiotic relationship, and we intend to keep it that way. Look at Intel and Microsoft, they collaborated for many years." Apparently it doesn't really matter for Google whether there are one or many major players in the Android space. "It's not just the operating system, but it's the services on top of it, the cloud services," Pichai posed. "Look at search, Maps, YouTube - we do crazy things to make Maps happen - fly planes, drive cars. And we have more coming. We have Google Now. And I think that's where the innovation lies. I don't see it as a zero-sum game because the industry is exploding." Pichai noted that even though Motorola is developing the Moto X from within Google, he's no more excited about it than a device coming from Samsung. Very diplomatic, Mr. Pichai.     | | Leaked specs revealed for Samsung Galaxy Active, Zoom handsets May 30th 2013, 16:36 
There are three full weeks before the Samsung Premiere 2013 event on June 20, but Samsung Galaxy S4 fans won't have to wait that long before getting a peek at the specs for two companion handsets launching there. Android Community reported Thursday that two additional Android handsets may be waiting in the wings to expand the Galaxy S4 family next month. In addition to the Galaxy S4 Mini already announced, new Galaxy models aimed at shutterbugs and those with more active lifestyles could be launched soon. The aptly named Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is expected to be resistant to both water and dust, having previously been spotted wearing a crimson red exterior. Focus on specsActive appears to feature a five-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor with Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage plus micro-SD slot and a 2600mAh battery. Bearing a closer resemblance to the Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom puts the focus on the 16MP rear-facing camera, equipped with the requisite 10x optical zoom for getting that much closer to the action. The remainder of the specs are somewhat less impressive, with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a 960 x 540 resolution, dual-core 1.6GHz processor, a modest 8GB of internal storage (plus micro-SD slot) and 1900mAh battery. Of course, anything can change between now and Samsung's London event on June 20, which could also see the debut of new ATIV-branded Windows Phone handsets.     | | HTC will in fact sell the One with stock Android May 30th 2013, 15:59 
We won't start a "liar, liar pants on fire" chant aimed at HTC because we're pretty excited about a development announced today by the phone maker. After initially telling us there was no "Nexus Edition" of the HTC One in the works, HTC is now revealing that beginning next month, it plans to bring a Nexus user experience to its flagship phone. "A special edition of the new HTC One running stock Android will be exclusively available through the Google Play store in the United States starting on June 26," said Jeff Gordon, HTC senior global online communications manager. "This edition pairs the all-metal unibody design, low-light capabilities of the UltraPixel camera and dual front-facing stereo speakers of the new HTC One with the stock version of the latest Android software, Jelly Bean 4.2.2." Nexus takeoverThe phone will be available for $599 (around UK£395, AU$622) and while it's starting out stateside, HTC threw a parenthetical "initially" in its announcement, suggesting we should see the phone hit international markets down the road. The device is supported on GSM networks (AT&T and T-Mobile), and software updates will come via Google. Gordon let us in on a few more details, too: The Google edition of the One will not include BlinkFeed or the Sense camera UX, while the camera itself will be Android through and through. That means Jelly Bean 4.2's Photo Sphere will be part of the package, but it won't have Sense camera experiences such as HTC Zoe, Highlights or the living gallery. For sub-$600, users will get a 32GB, Sense-free handset that follows Samsung's play into the vanilla Android space with its own flagship, the Galaxy S4. The Nexus-ized S4 was announced during Google IO a few weeks back and had many a phone-owning hopeful whetting their beaks at the thought of a TouchWiz-less super phone. Now with HTC throwing its highly regarded handset into the land of Nexus, we could see a few more copycat acts before the year is up.     | | In Depth: The new Google Maps is here, and it could kill off the competition May 30th 2013, 15:49 
Google showed off a new version of Google Maps at its annual IO conference earlier this month and is now offering the new system to a limited number of users as a preview. TechRadar has gained access to the new Google Maps and has taken a brief trip around the world to look at the features it has to offer. We're aware that this is not the final product and we're sure Google will be doing more work on the new version of Maps over the coming months, but here's what we think so far. Eyes downThe first thing you'll notice when you fire up the new Google Maps is that everything looks a bit, well, Apple Maps. Now before you start to question the reason to live as you fear Google is going the way of the Cupertino-based firm's mapping solution we're here to reassure you. Cosmetically the search giant has given Maps a bit of a spring clean, but it's mapping nous still underlies the service to give you the quality you're familiar with. 
One to the big design tweaks has been to the colour of the roads, with the blues and greens replaced with varying shades of orange, with the more minor routes finished in white or grey. This gives the maps a much cleaner appearance, and comparing it to the old version of Google Maps it looks a lot less cluttered. Not the (Google) Earth you're looking forSatellite view has been replaced with "Earth" - which shows the clear tie-in with the firm's other planet viewing platform - and this icon is now located in the bottom left of the screen. Give it a click and the map fades to the new view, with the zoom controls and compass located at the bottom of the screen, over in the right corner. 
Oddly you can't zoom in as far on the Earth view as you can in Satellite view, meaning if you fancy you won't be able to count the number of chimney pots on your neighbours rooftops quite so easily. Zoom all the way out and you'll get a lovely overview of planet earth which you can spin on its axis - which is all very nice. Where's pegman?Street View is still baked into the new Google Maps, although our little friend the pegman is nowhere to be seen on the new layout. Google has done away with the golden figurine, and instead has delivered a more intuitive system. 
Just click on any road on the map and a card will pop up below the search bar on the left of the screen with the address, the option to get directions to the point and a thumbnail of the Street View for that location which you can click to enter the mode. Once in Street View things are pretty much the same, you can click along roads to move down them and zoom it at any point if you fancy checking out someone's front door. Entering the third dimensionWhile Earth and Street View are nothing new, Google has implemented a new visual feature which it claims will let you "see the world". In certain cities round the world (at the moment the preview is restricted to a handful of US cities) buildings have been modelled in 3D, allowing you to get a new perspective on the area you're viewing. 
Now if this all sounds rather familiar, that's because it is. The feature is almost identical to Apple's "Flyover" function in its own mapping service. Is that a lawsuit we smell? We spent some time flying around the Boston and New York skylines with this new feature and while it's quite fun, it is lacking the layer of polish to make it truly impressive. We found the 3D buildings took a few seconds to fully render each time we moved around the map and while some buildings looked great, others appeared a bit cartoony and misshapen. Google will no doubt look to tighten up this feature before it makes the new Google Maps publicly available, but for the time being it's a little hit and miss. Hungry?Google wants to make sure your Maps experience is tailored to you and this means you'll be able to search relevant restaurants, hotels and attractions around the world. The new Maps service allows you to favourite and review places, and based on your ratings and stared locations it will then suggest other places it thinks you'll enjoy. 
Obviously it will become more tailored to you the more you use it, plus it will pull in friend recommendations to help you choose. You can search things such as restaurants easily. Typing "Italian restaurants" in the search bar will prompt Google Maps to display the corresponding results on the area you're currently viewing. If you want to find places in an area which currently isn't on screen, just put a comma after the type of attraction you want and enter the location you wish to search in. Once again the whole process isn't the speediest, but it it's functional and it's something which we reckon has a lot of potential. Please turn leftOf course finding the perfect place to eat is no use if you don't know how to get there, but happily directions are on hand. Whenever you search a particular location, or select a road or attraction on the map, a card will appear under the search bar and there is a "Directions" button you can select which will tell you how to get to your destination. 
The layout has been altered in the new Google Maps, but all the same functionality is there, including the option of choosing driving, walking or public transport directions as well as viewing the traffic to make sure you don't get stuck in a jam. Google has also produced a handy little YouTube video which walks you through the key new features. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THxJHcR1D2cQuick VerdictThe new Google Maps is looking promising, with some potentially handy features and a fresher design - although it's still a bit rough round the edges for now. Given time though we're pretty sure Google will apply the correct amount of polish to make this version of Maps just as slick and efficient as previous iterations. From this showing, Google Maps looks set to still be the best free mapping solution available on your PC and mobile, and the inclusion of 3D buildings and personalised results will only see it extend its advantage over the competition. Probably time you got a move on, Apple.     | | UPDATED: Best Sprint Phone: seven we recommend May 30th 2013, 14:50 
While other carriers quibble about data plans - unlimited, limited, throttled, not-throttled - Sprint offers some of those most easy to understand plans available. And while we haven't been quiet about our disappointment with the company's pace in rolling out its 4G LTE networks, the fact remains that for the most part, Sprint's networks are plenty fast. With that in mind, if you're a current Sprint subscriber or you're fed up with your current plan and want to make the jump, then you'll want to check out the best phones that are currently available on Sprint. Samsung Galaxy S4
Make no mistake - the Samsung Galaxy S4 is far, far more than a Galaxy S3 'S' - Samsung may be copying Apple according to some people, but it's not as brazen as the Cupertino brand in flogging the exact same design with a slightly uprated processor and calling it a new phone. The Galaxy S4 is a great, great device in its own right, re-inventing what it means to own a brilliant smartphone in a number of ways. The gestures are cool, the touch-less experience amazing at times - in short, it's a wonderful phone you want to pull out of your pocket again and again and again. HTC One
As we said, this is the best HTC phone ever, without a doubt. But we'll go one better than that: it's the best phone on the market full stop. TheSamsung Galaxy S4 isn't too far behind at all as it's a lot cheaper than the HTC One, but for sheer level of functionality, innovation and just overall effect it has in the hand, we can't help but recommend the HTC One to anyone looking to buy a new smartphone. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Samsung has taken a product many people - including us - expected to sink. It's built on that and given us something even better. Faster, stronger, better looking, and more functional. It's better connected than ever, and thanks to that increased screen size, now takes the crown in our eyes as the perfect media player. Samsung has achieved something special here, because it has made the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 bigger than the original, but pulls it off so that you don't notice it too much. The fact that it launches running Android Jelly Bean and has such grunt with that processor makes this a class-leading phone. And with a camera that churns out fantastic pics, it's the perfect device in many ways. Ultimately, there's no getting away from the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a niche device. But it does almost everything it sets out to do perfectly, with grace, class and maximum functionality. And if you're in the market for a larger smartphone or a small tablet, there really is no better device. Apple iPhone 5
There's a lot to like about the iPhone 5 on Sprint, and a lot to dislike, especially if you live in the parts of the U.S. without its 4G service. We like that Sprint's plans are easy to understand, and that they come with unlimited data, text messaging and FaceTime over cellular. We don't like how limited Sprint's 4G coverage area is, and the fact that 3G customers will pay the same rate as those with 4G. You're basically choosing between unlimited data with Sprint, or 4G speeds with AT&T or Verizon, unless you live in those lucky parts of the U.S. with Sprint 4G, in which case you can have it all. Samsung Galaxy S3
With a host of new features, a spec list that's close to being unbeatable in the modern climate and a pretty darn palatable price on contract (if you're with the right network), there's a good reason why the Galaxy S3 is breaking pre-order records the world over. And now we've lived with the phone for a while, we can feel more comfortable in our verdict on one of the most sought-after handsets out there. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is easily one of the best smarpthones on the market. It's got every kind of feature we could ask for and more, and raises the bar once again in terms of what consumers should be expecting in terms of battery life, processor speed and media management. So to summarize: if you've been waiting feverishly for the new Samsung Galaxy S3, you will not be disappointed. It's fast, it's sleek and it packs the latest technology that will get your pulse racing. LG Optimus G
With its beefy stats, beautiful display and 4G capabilities, the Optimus G is easily the most capable phone LG has ever produced. Still, as a $200 for two-year contract device on Sprint, it falls in with serious competition from the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC Evo 4G LTE. Then there's the matter of Sprint's small 4G coverage area in the U.S., and the approach of the Google Nexus 4 by LG, which is rumored to have specs very similar to the Optimus G. Is now the right time to go 4G on Sprint with the LG Optimus G? For the most part, we'd say yes. Thanks to powerful hardware and (some) 4G service, the Optimus G is most capable smartphone LG has ever produced. Media, games, web browsing and even Google Maps all benefit from that large and ever-so sharp display. HTC Evo 4G LTE
We were already huge fans of the HTC One X, but the Evo delivers on many of the front's that the One X simply fell flat. The expandable memory makes it a boon for delivering quality media content with limited restrictions. And then there's the matter of the battery, which has been chiefly resolved by just (somehow) managing to fit a larger battery inside. Simply put, the HTC Evo 4G LTE is the best phone on Sprint. If it takes Sprint a year to roll out LTE in your city, then you'll have LTE on your phone as soon as anyone else on Sprint's network does - and while those yet unfulfilled promises might make it a risky purchase, it's simply too good of a phone to really care. From snapping photos to Dropbox integration, to a very sleek and very sexy chassis this is a phone you have every right to brag about, and should be proud of - promises yet fulfilled or no. Coming soon: LG Mach hands on review Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE release date and pricing     | |
